Fiction Forger

Chapter 10: Truth Or Lie, Mordras And A Monster's Grasp

The sky was dark, and the moon had risen high, casting an ethereal glow over everything. My eyes slowly opened as I groggily got up. "Wha- where am I?" I muttered, disoriented.

I looked around, taking in the white walls and the opulent surroundings. Everything was fancy—the desk, the bed, even the curtains seemed luxurious. Two maids stood at the foot of the bed I was currently in.

The moment our eyes met, one of the maids quickly left the room. Did I do something wrong? The remaining maid stood still like a statue, her face devoid of any emotion. Her stoic presence was giving me the creeps.

"Uhh... Umm... Who- who are you? And... Where am I?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, just loud enough for her to hear.

The last thing I remembered was being saved by the sage. I couldn't quite recall what he looked like, but the emblem on his chest told me he was a sage. I wondered which one of them he could be.

"You are in the Qweldom Castle," the maid replied, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

"What?" Am I dreaming?

As I tried to make sense of my surroundings, memories of the past started to flood back. I recalled the moments with Duncal, the times when I was made a sacrifice. I remembered everything—the heinous actions of the guardians and the horrors I had witnessed.

What about the people in the dungeon? Did they manage to escape? My mind raced with questions, each one more pressing than the last.

Then, remembering the face of the sage who saved me, I couldn't help but let out a smile.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I called myself a coward. Why did I leave those people? Guilt was eating me alive. When I had the power to easily demolish hard structures, I didn't even think of going back to free them from their bars. I always thought only about myself.

"Where am I again?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"Qweldom Castle," she repeated, her tone unchanged.

"I see," I muttered, realizing I was in one of the countries soon to be ruined. I sat quietly, hugging my knees. "Why am I here?" I asked, desperation creeping into my voice.

"I have no knowledge of that," she replied. "We are only tasked with watching over your health and ensuring you are well."

"Why?" I pressed further.

"Because the master says so," she replied without emotion.

Qweldom was one of the most powerful countries, ranked second in terms of economic strength and possessing the strongest military power.

However, soon this nation would fall, shaking the very foundations of other countries as it gets overrun.

If the mightiest country gets obliterated, it will give other nations ample reason to fear whatever is coming.

Just then, the door creaked open, and the king entered, followed by the maid who had left earlier. She was carrying a lie-seeking stone on her right arm.

"You might wonder why you are here," the king spoke, his voice a stark contrast to the two maids. It was deep and intimidating, filled with an unsettling mix of authority and menace.

I remember this face very well—the fourth villain of the story, the Twelve-Faced King. But something about him looks different.

In the novel, he was depicted as an undead, an empty shell inhabited by Mordras, a self-proclaimed god. Mordras was a necromancer who lost his real body in a battle against Hailim, who was protecting the main protagonist, Derion.